Witham's MP has met with train bosses in a bid to improve services throughout the district.

Priti Patel raised residents’ concerns with the new Abellio Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles last Wednesday, including the quality and cleanliness of rolling stock, passenger communications when there are delays and responses to complaints and compensation claims.

Ms Patel said that although Mr Burles was willing to take on board suggestions from local commuters, the proof would be in the action he takes in his role.

She said: “Rail users from my constituency and throughout Essex are keen to see improvements in the services they receive and during our meeting Mr Burles was willing to take on board all the comments, criticisms and suggestions that were raised."

Agreed! When I arrived at Liverpool Street, it was absolutely heaving, and the information was "a problem near Chelmsford that is under investigation". There was no detail as to what the problem was or how long it could take to get services running again. Surely with a problem of this nature (the overhead lines were down) they could have known, and allowed us to decide on a plan of action. I got the slow train to Shenfield, by then about 90 minutes after the start of the incident and the staff there still did not know,. There was a train on the platform claiming to be headed for Chelmsford, but the driver did not know when he would be leaving.

I was fortunate to be able to get somebody to come and pick me up - but so did hundreds of other people so the main road into Shenfield was nose to tail and the queue to get off the A12 was about a mile.

Agreed! When I arrived at Liverpool Street, it was absolutely heaving, and the information was "a problem near Chelmsford that is under investigation". There was no detail as to what the problem was or how long it could take to get services running again. Surely with a problem of this nature (the overhead lines were down) they could have known, and allowed us to decide on a plan of action. I got the slow train to Shenfield, by then about 90 minutes after the start of the incident and the staff there still did not know,. There was a train on the platform claiming to be headed for Chelmsford, but the driver did not know when he would be leaving.
I was fortunate to be able to get somebody to come and pick me up - but so did hundreds of other people so the main road into Shenfield was nose to tail and the queue to get off the A12 was about a mile.keith_l

So Priti, put your money where your mouth is after last nights debacle, as could the rail operator!! But alas all they do is hike fares bot peak and off peak (which now apparently is any time after 12 for the cheapest fares!) and groupsave 4 is not actually a BOGOF offer anymore and kids don't get the £1 fare anymore as part of it. So what exactly is this rail company doing for the commuter apart from treating them as a cash cow!

So Priti, put your money where your mouth is after last nights debacle, as could the rail operator!! But alas all they do is hike fares bot peak and off peak (which now apparently is any time after 12 for the cheapest fares!) and groupsave 4 is not actually a BOGOF offer anymore and kids don't get the £1 fare anymore as part of it. So what exactly is this rail company doing for the commuter apart from treating them as a cash cow!montygirl